Automatic sprinkler.



PATENTED APR. 26, 1904.

No. 758,522.'v

c. B. GARRETT.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLBR. APPLICATION FILED APB.. 18, 1902. N0 MODEL'. 2SHEETS-SHEET 1. I x4 Il 4 .a/ @if i /y L; l /5l 7 Xg @/f ,ill I nar- /4ijzf 0 /Z I Qi 24 5 2/ F- 25 Ja 9 v I j 2 PATENTED APR. 26, 1904.

l C. B. GARRETT. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.-

APPLICATION FILED APB. 1a, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

l0 IODEL. v

2 7 Z//h oa@ e www vgf(

.of the same.

UNITED STATES 'r'atented April 26, 1904.

' PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. GARRETT, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OFI ONE-HALF TOG. GARRETT, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

AuTowlATlo SPRINKLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,522, dated April26, 1904.

Application led April 18, 1902.

To all wil/07m it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. GARRETT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Sprinklers; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My present invention relates to automatic sprinklers forfire-extinguishing systems, and has for its object to improve the sameinthe several particulars hereinafter noted.

The invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of deviceshereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

Certain features illustrated in this application and not herein claimedare disclosed and claimed in my prior application, Serial No.v 97,238,filed March 8, 1902, for an automatic sprinkler.

' My invention is'illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likecharacters indilcate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in verticalsection, showing an automatic sprinkler embodying the several featuresof my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view Fig. 3 is a horizontal section onthe line m3 @of Fig. 1. Fig. lis a transverse vertical sectionapproximately on the line mi* 004 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontalsection on the line x5 'x5 of Fig. 1.' Fig. 6 is a bottom plan View ofthe cap or stopper. Fig. 7 is a section on the line m7 m7 of `Fig. 6.Fig. 8 is a detail view in plan, showing the parts of the so-calledfusible strut separated. Fig. 9 is a plan view 0f the sleeve throughwhich the fusible section of the annunciator-circuit is passed. Fig. 10is a detail view in vertical section, showing a sliglitlyemodiedconstruction of the sprinkler head and associated parts; and Fig. 11 isa section on the line fr The numeral 1 indicates the head of thesprinkler, which head is provided with a wa- Serial No. 103,493. (Nomodel.)

ter-delivery orice 2 and is adapted to be supported in the usual or anysuitable way at the delivery end of the water-distribution pipe. Thishead is provided at one side with an upwardly-curved yoke 3, the upperend o f which terminates above the orice 2 and, as shown, is split toafford a clamping-seat for a sleevelike adjusting-screw 4. Theadjusting-screw i loosely holds in position a spraying-wheel 5 ofordinary construction.

To the intermediate portion of the yoke 3 is secured ahorizontally-extended thrust-resisting bracket afforded by a frigid loop6, provided at the inner edge of its extended portion with indentationsor depressions 7 into which, as will be presently noted, the prongs of aso-called fusible strut are adapted to be seated.

The orifice 2 is normally closed by a cap or stopper 8, which isnormally held in working position directly by a toggle-actingspringstrut and indirectly by the so-called fusible strut. A diaphragmor disk 9, of mica, is countersunk approximately iush into a shallowseat formed in the bottom or lower surface of said cap. Above the disk 9the cap 8 is hollowed out or formed with a cavity which is quite tightlypacked with an elastic or resilient material 10, such as hair, wool, orrubber. The marginal portions of the diaphragm 9 are pressed o nto apacking-ring 1l, preferably of soft metal, which is seated on 'the faceof the head 1, surrounding the orifice 2.

One or more, but preferablya pair, of springs 12, secured at their outerends to the yoke 3 or other suitable support, engage under the adjacentedge of the cap 8 at their extended ends and assist in unseating saidcap when the same is released from the strain of the devices whichnormally hold the same in its closed position.

The toggle-acting spring-strut is madeup of two sections 13 and 14, theformer of which at its upper end engages a notch or depression f thestrut-section 13 is formed with an odset shoulder 13, with which thelaterally-bent upper' end of the strut-section 14 engages. Thestrut-section 13 at its lower' portion is in the form of a U-shapedspring extension 13", which terminates at its free end in a crotch 13,preferably formed by splitting the end of said spring extension andbending the lips thus formed in opposite directions, as best shown inFigs. 1 and 3. A thrust-screw 16 works with screw-threaded engagementthrough the strut member 14 and presses against the inner prong of thespring extension 13".

The fusible strut is made up of two sections 17 and 18, the {iatsurfaces of which are connected by solder 19 of the desired fusibility.The section 17 underlies the section 18 and is preferably provided witha perforation 17 which exposes a portion of the solder to the directaction of flames or hot drafts of air, which in case of fire melt thesolder and throw the sprinkler automatically into action. The inner endof the strut-section 18 normally rests in the crotch 13c of thestrut-section 13 of the spring-strut. The outer end of the strut-section17 is bent laterally out of line with the bodies of the sections 17 and18 and, as shown, is formed with prongs 17'), which normally engage theseats or depressions 7 of the bracket 6. A sleeve 19, of insulatingmaterial, is secured to one face of the strut-section 14 by means of aclamping-linger 20. A section 21 of an annunciator-circuit is passedloosely through said sleeve 19 and, as shown, is seered at its ends tocontact-plugs 22, shown as held by screws' 23 within suitable seatsformed in a yoke-like insulating-support 24, which in turn is shown assecured to the head 1 of the sprinkler by means of ascrew 25 and bylug-and-notch engagements 26. The leads 27 of the annunciator-circuitare suitably secured to the contact-plugs 22.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 the partcorresponding to the wire 21 is formed in two sections 28, and the endsof the said sections are inclosed within pockets 29 of aninsulating-sleeve 30. This latter-described construction is intended foruse where a normally open annunciator-circuit is employed, while thecontinuous wire 19 is intended for use Where a normally closedannunciator-circuit is employed.

The numeral 31 indicates a wire or other connection to one member of theso-called fusible strut. This connection 31 may eX- tend to any suitablepoint and connected to any suitable device whereby it may be drawn uponto positively force the fusible strut out of working position and throwthe sprinkler into action, as is frequently desirable in cases of iire.

The strut devices above described are adapted for use in connectioneither with dry-pipe or wet-pipe systems. The water cushioning device,however, would not be necessary in dry-pipe systems in View of theelasticity of the air stored in the distribution-pipes, but is of courseespecially adapted for use in wetpipe systems.

It is of course a Well-known fact that water unmixed with air is one ofthe most inelastic substances known. It is due to this inelasticity ofthe water that all jars or vibrations applied to any of the parts of thewet-pipe system are through the water transmitted to thesprinkler-heads, producing thereon in many cases an almost incessantpounding action, technically known as water-hammer. This incessant orfrequent pounding action at the sprinkler-heads tends to producecrystalli- Zation and often renders the sprinkler-heads unreliable orinoperative.

-The water cushioning device renders the 'above pounding action of thewater harmless or at least minimizes the pounding effect of the water.With the construction above described it is evident that all jars orsudden vibrations at the sprinkler-heads upon striking the diaphragm ofthe cushion are exhausted, or so nearly so, that they are renderedharmless.

The diaphragm 9 may be made of various materials, among which may bevmentioned thinly-pressed metal. Such construction of the diaphragm wouldnot, however, be the full equivalent of the diaphragm formed of mica,since the former will corrode or rust, While the latter will not.

As already indicated, the toggle acting spring-strut and thetoggleacting fusible strut are normally applied as best indicated inFig. 1. It is also evident that when the solder of the fusible strut ismelted enough to permit the sections of the strut to be separated underthe spring tension 'of the springstrut the sections 17 and 18 will berapidly thrown apart by an angular or buckling movement resembling thatof a toggle. Under this movement the sections of the fusible strut, aswell as those of the spring-strut, are thrown away from the yoke 3 ofthe sprinklerhead 1 and all [ind a clear space through which they arethrown below the loop or bracket 6 and above the sprinkler-head. It isalso evident that as soon as the spring-strut is released by thebuckling of the fusible strut the sections thereof will be buckled underthe cooperating action of two forces-t0 wit, the one due to the verticaltension put upon the offset shoulder 13L of the section 13 and the otherdue to the lateral strain put upon the spring extension 13b by thethrust-screw 16. It is further evident that by adjusting the set-screw16 any desired lateral strain may be put upon the spring extension 13band through said spring extension onto the fusible strut. Thisadjustable feature I consider an important improvement over the priorstate of the art.

It will of course be understood that the de- IOO lIO

vice above described is capable of considerable modification within thescope of my in'vention as herein set forth and claimed.

The sleeve 19, carried by the strut-section, is detachably held by thespring keeper or finger 20, and hence may be removed and replaced atwill. When it is applied in working position, as-illustrated in Figs. 1to 4:, inclusive, it serves .when the struts are tripped to break orsever the wire 21 of the annunciator-circuit. This wire 21, it should befurther explained, is not only a fine wire which may be easily broken,but should be composed of a metal or other conducting material which iseasily fused, so that the heat which throws the sprinkler into actionwill render the same soft and more easily broken than under normalconditions.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 when the sleeve 30 isthrown from working position by the tripping of the struts and theopening of the water-delivery orifice of the sprinkler-head the circuitbetween the sections of thedivided or section conductor 28 will beclosed by the outiowing column of water.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is as follows:

1. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination with a sprinkler-headhaving a water-delivery orice, of a stopper normally closing saidorifice, a toggle-acting spring-strut normally holding said stopper inposition, means for adjusting or varying the tension tending to bucklethe said toggle-acting strut, and a fusible strut normally resisting thebuckling action of said toggle-acting strut and holding the same inworking position, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination witha sprinkler-headhaving a water-dea fusible strut normally pressed between said prong 13and a portion of said sprinklerhead, substantially as described.

3., The combination with a sprinkler-head having a water-deliveryorifice and an upwardly-curved yoke terminating above said orifice, of ahorizontally -eXtended yoke or thrust-bracket secured to the formeryoke, a cap or stopper for normally closing said orifice, atoggle-acting spring-strut reacting on said cap or stopper and on theupper end of the former noted yoke, and a fusible strut reacting betweensaid spring-strut and the eX- tended portion of saidhorizontally-extended yoke, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a sprinkler-head having a water-deliveryorifice, of a stopper normally closing said orifice, a toggle-actingstrut normally holding said stopper in position, a sleeve or guidecarried by one of the strut members, and circuit connections involving afusible wire passed through said sleeve or guide, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination with a sprinkler-hea having a water-delivery orifice,of a stopper normally closing said orifice, a toggle-acting strutnormally holding said stopper in working position, a sleeve detachablysecured to one of the strut members by spring finger or clamp, andcircuit connections involving a fusible-wire section passed throughsaidsleeve and adapted to be severed thereby when the strut is tripped,substantially as described.

6. The combination with a sprinkler-head having a water-deliveryorifice, of a stopper normally/.closing the same, a toggle-acting strutnormally holding said stopper in working position, a sleeve carried byone of said strut members and a circuit connection subject to the actionof said sleeve when said strut is tripped, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES B. GARRETT. Witnesses:

E. H. KELIHER, F. D. MERCHANT.

